CHAPTER 818: CHAPTER 126 - FRIENDS (5)

The next academic year rolled around, and Gabrielle finally took her seat as the president of the council, stepping into that role with an air of quiet authority that made it feel almost like she’d been born for it. She’d already handpicked every single person she wanted at her side, crafting the council exactly how she’d envisioned it.

Watching from the outside, I felt... strangely relieved that my name wasn’t on that list. Looking at them all standing there with them all being confident, sharp-eyed, and clearly talented, it really hit me just how badly I’d have stuck out among them, like a dull stone in a pile of polished gems.

And then, among those names, my eyes landed on someone all too familiar.

My fiancé.

Well, fiancé only by arrangement. Something decided quietly by our parents behind closed doors, not something I’d asked for—or wanted, really.

We hadn’t really talked beyond stiff, awkward small talk during family dinners arranged so we could "get closer." Those moments always felt forced, like we were acting out a script neither of us had written.

His name was Sesiliian.

A man from the Silver Class, with a face that looked carved to be handsome and a voice smooth enough to make people pause mid-sentence. He wasn’t the strongest out there, but he didn’t need to be. His charm and connections did most of the heavy lifting, and people were drawn to him like moths to a flame.

It was even said that his voice alone could make women blush and squeal, though I’d never let myself fall for that. Even if I had to admit—he did have that certain something that pulled your attention whether you liked it or not. But deep inside, there was always something about Sesiliian that set my nerves on edge. Something I couldn’t quite name. Maybe it was just me resenting the whole engagement, or maybe it was something real. Well, I didn’t know, and eventually, I just pushed it aside.

But credit where it was due—Gabrielle choosing him was a smart move. He had the right presence for public events as well as the right words to smooth over rough edges.

And the rest of the council, I couldn’t say other that it was stacked. Strong, quick-witted cadets from the second-year Gold Class, first-years who’d already made a name for themselves—and even one unexpected pick from the Bronze Class.

Gabrielle said it herself that she wanted a broader perspective, and this Bronze Class cadet had a talent with numbers that would’ve made anyone look twice.

In what felt like no time at all, Gabrielle was becoming the president everyone talked about in hushed and impressed voices. Even the staff were praising her for the changes she brought, and the improvements started to ripple through every class—from Bronze to Gold.

But as she rose, our time with her began to slip quietly away.

"She’s really busy, huh?" Rose said beside me one afternoon, her voice carrying a dull note of disappointment. She was lounging on a weathered bench, arms flung behind her head, a piece of grass lazily dangling between her lips.

I shrugged, staring out across the training yard where cadets sparred under the afternoon sun. "Well, I guess that’s the downside of being president," I muttered back, trying to sound lighter than I felt.

"Yeah, right," Rose sighed, tilting her head back to watch the sky. "Looks like it comes with all these perks, but damn... the price must be heavy. Honestly, if it were me, I’d have exploded from stress by now. And to top it off, she’s still number one in Gold Class, like it’s nothing."

Even with the weight of the entire council on her shoulders, Gabrielle hadn’t slipped from her top spot. Not once.

It was almost scary, the way she kept it all balanced so perfectly, I mean.

"Gabrielle really is amazing, huh?" Rose murmured, quieter this time, almost like she was admitting something to herself.

There was a faint ache in her voice, and I could feel it too. It was like watching someone drift further and further away, not because they wanted to, but because life kept pulling them forward.

"She is..." I agreed softly, though the words felt heavier coming out than I expected.

Time moved on, and before we knew it, midterms had crept up on us.

Preparation felt almost mechanical by now with an endless hours of drills, late nights hunched over notes as well as the stale scent of ink and sweat clinging to our uniforms. It didn’t feel like I’d improved, but as long as I could keep from slipping, I told myself it’d be okay.

The academy didn’t just look at raw strength or intelligence, either. We were tested on everything, like written exams that made our heads spin, physical tests that left muscles aching for days, as well as coordination drills that demanded absolute focus. All of it measured, scored, and compared to decide if we were worthy to stand among magic knights.

When it was all finally over, exhaustion weighed so heavy it felt like my bones had turned to lead.

Then came the moment everyone dreaded and waited for in equal measure and that was the new rankings.

We gathered around the board, with the air so thick with nerves you could almost taste it.

"Ha..." Rose’s voice cracked beside me, eyes wide as they locked onto the list.

"I got... demoted?" she whispered, as if saying it out loud would make it feel less real.

Demotion. Back to Silver Class. The same place she’d started in her first year.

But I couldn’t even reach out to her.

Because my eyes had frozen on my own name.

Rank 89.

Over twenty places lower than where I’d been before.

Which meant... I couldn’t even pretend I was safe anymore. Graduation at the Gold Class wasn’t guaranteed.

And as the truth settled heavy in my chest, it felt like the floor itself had shifted under my feet.